Archaeometric Study of the White Marbles from “Madonna Della Febbre” Altar in San Domenico Church (Cosenza, Southern Italy)

San Domenico Church was built between 1441 and 1468 and represents one of the most important historical buildings of the Cosenza area (Calabria, Southern Italy) thanks to its architectonic style and the works inside, such as the “Madonna della Febbre”, a notable marble altar dated back to the XVI century. The church, as well as the sculptural group, underwent various interventions over time, unfortunately scarcely documented; thus, in this paper, the characterization of six white marble samples coming from the altar, was carried out to determine their provenance. The samples were analyzed by means of complementary methodologies well known in the archaeometric field: polarized optical microscopy (POM); an electron probe micro analyzer coupled with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EPMA-EDS); inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS); and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). The results provided important information about the “Madonna della Febbre” altar, suggesting the presence of different typologies of marbles and hypothesizing their possible provenance, including Carrara and Docimium. It was not clear if these marbles were re-used materials but, regardless, the reported information adds precious elements to the history of the entire architectonic complex, providing new issues to be deepened

Le champ filonien à Zn-(Pb, Cu, As, Hg) du district minier de Fedj Hassène (Nord Ouest de la Tunisie): Minéralogie, Eléments en traces, Isotopes du Soufre et Inclusions Fluides

Le district minier de Fedj Hassène est situé à proximité de la frontière algéro-tunisienne, à 10 Km au sud de la ville de Ghardimaou. Il regroupe plusieurs filons à Pb-Zn, localement accompagnés par des sulfures de Cu, d'As et d'Hg. Les réserves sont estimées à 370.000 t à 10% de Zn et 0,2% de Pb. Les minéralisations remplissent des fractures subparallèles à la faille d'Ain Kohla de direction ESEWNW et des fentes d'extension qui recoupent les calcaires marneux du Turonien moyen. Le filon principal est formé par de la sphalérite massive brune et accessoirement par de la galène et de la barytine. Le minerai peut se présenter sous forme massive ou sous la forme de ciment de brèche. L'association minérale est composée par de la sphalérite, galène, chalcopyrite, pyrite et orpiment. La gangue est formée par de la calcite massive et localement par de la barytine et du quartz. L'analyse des éléments en trace dans la sphalérite révèle des teneurs en poids de 0,84% Fe, 0,14% Cd et 0,02% Mn. L'étude des inclusions fluides dans la calcite et la sphalérite montre l'existence d'un fluide caractérisé par une salinité de l'ordre de 23% poids équiv. NaCl à température décroissante lors de la mise en place des minéralisations (194 °C lors du dépôt de la calcite et 133 °C lors du dépôt de la sphalérite). Ce fluide est caractérisé par une densité comprise entre 1,00 g/cm3 et 1,11 g/cm3 avec une pression de piégeage estimée de 200 bars. La précipitation des sulfures parait être contrôlée par une chute de la température. Les mesures des isotopes du soufre dans la sphalérite donnent des valeurs de δ34S toutes positives et variant dans une gamme très restreinte comprise entre + 4,6‰ et 6,4‰ VCDT (moyenne=5,6‰). Ces valeurs indiquent une origine commune du soufre réduit qui est formé par les processus de ré duction thermique de sulfates. La source des sulfates admet les évaporites triasiques de la région comme reservoir potentiel. Les études géologiques et minéralogiques couplées à la microthermométrie des inclusions fluides et la géochimie des éléments en traces et des isotopes du soufre permettent de classer le gisement filonien de Fedj Hassène dans le groupe des gisements polymétalliques (Pb-Zn-As, Hg) typiques de la zone des nappes de la Tunisie du Nord et de l'Algérie nord-orientale

Quarkonium Results in PbPb Collisions at CMS

We summarize the results from the study of charmonium and bottomonium via the dimuon decay channel in PbPb collisions with the CMS experiment. We discuss the observation of sequential suppression of the Upsilon states. We present preliminary results of prompt J/psi and psi' production, as well as of non-prompt J/psis coming from the weak decay of b-quarks. This latter measurement is sensitive to b-quark energy loss. We discuss the results and compare to model predictions.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. Proceedings of 29th Winter Workshop on Nuclear Dynamic

Impacto das habilidades escolares dos pais e do género dos alunos

Este artigo analisa a relação entre as atribuições causais e o rendimento académico, apreciando como tais atribuições se diferenciam de acordo com o nível de escolaridade dos pais e o género dos alunos. Para a avaliação das atribuições causais recorremos à escala "Avaliação das Atribuições Causais e Multidimensionais" (Barca, 2000) e a uma amostra de 1.144 alunos de escolas públicas e privadas do Ensino Médio do Estado de Rondónia (Amazônia, Brasil). Os resultados sugerem que, na generalidade das atribuições causais, os alunos não se diferenciam de forma estatisticamente significativa considerando o seu rendimento académico. A larga maioria dos alunos valoriza as próprias capacidades e o esforço (atribuições internas) para explicarem os seus bons resultados escolares, associando os fracos resultados escolares à falta de sorte ou aos professores (atribuições externas). Mesmo assim, os alunos de mais fraco rendimento justificam, em maior percentagem, o seu bom desempenho escolar recorrendo à sorte e à facilidade dos exames, recorrendo também mais frequentemente à falta de capacidade para explicarem os seus fracos resultados escolares. As atribuições causais não se diferenciam segundo o género dos alunos, muito embora a atribuição dos fracos resultados escolares à falta de capacidade é mais frequente nos rapazes cujos pais possuem baixas habilitações académicas. Por último, a atribuição dos bons resultados escolares ao esforço, ou os baixos resultados à falta de esforço, é mais frequente junto dos alunos cujos pais possuem níveis mais elevados de escolaridade.This paper analyses the relationship between causal attributions and academic achievement, considering attributions by students’ parents, school level, and gender. To evaluate causal attributions we use the scale "Avaliação das Atribuições Causais e Multidimensionais" (Barca, 2000) and a sample of 1144 students from basic public and private schools of Randonia State (Amazônia, Brazil). Results suggest that, students’ causal attributions are not differentiated by school achievement. Most students use internal attributions (capacities and effort) to explain their good schools marks, using external attributions (luck or teachers) to explain bad school classifications. Even tough, poorest achievement students justify, in large percentage, better marks by luck and facility of examinations, as well as low capacity to explain low school classifications. The causal attributions are not related to students´ gender, but male students from parents with low academic certifications tend to justify low school marks by lack of capacity. Finally, to justify good and bad marks by effort, or lack of effort, is more frequent in the students from parents with high school levels.Dans cet article nous présentons la relation entre les attributions causales et le rendement académique, en tenant compte du niveau scolaire des parents et le sexe des étudiants. Pour évaluer les attributions causales nous avons utilisé le questionnaire "Avaliação das Atribuições Causais e Multidimensionais" (Barca, 2000) et un échantillon représentatif de 1144 élèves fréquentant des institutions publiques et privées de l´enseignement basique de Rondónia (Amazônia, Brasil). Les résultats montrent que les élèves ne se différencient pas statistiquement dans leurs attributions en fonction de leur rendement scolaire. La plupart des élèves valorisent leurs efforts et capacités (causes internes) pour expliquer les bons résultats académiques, et associent le manque de chance ou les professeurs aux résultats les plus faibles (causes externes). Malgré ça, les élèves avec un plus faible rendement justifient, dans un pourcentage supérieur, quelques résultats positifs dus à la chance ou à la facilité des examens, ainsi comme ils mentionnent leur manque de capacité pour expliquer les mauvais résultats. Les attributions causales ne se différencient pas selon le sexe des élèves, bien que l´attribution de l´ insuccès scolaire au manque de capacité soit plus fréquente chez les élèves de sexe masculin dont les parents ont un niveau d’aptitude académique plus bas. Finalement, l’attribution des bons résultats à l’effort ou des faibles résultats au manque d’effort, est plus fréquente auprès des élèves dont les parents ont un niveau plus élevé de scolarité.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Dinamica familia-centro escolar y rendimiento academico en alumnado de educacion secundaria de Galicia y Norte de Portugal

El contexto de las relaciones e interacciones familiares en relación con los hijos y su rendimiento escolar ha sido estudiado con frecuencia por diferentes autores a lo largo de los últimos veinte años. Dadas las diferentes tipologías de familias existentes en la actualidad, se producen diferencias importantes en las relaciones e implicaciones familiares que tienen sus efectos, también diferencias en dicho rendimiento escolar. Se sabe que a mayor nivel formación académica y profesional de los padres, así parece que existe un efecto positivo en el rendimiento. Como objetivo general se trata de obtener evidencia empírica de la capacidad predictiva y sus efectos sobre el rendimiento de las variables relacionadas con la percepción que los alumnos tienen de la valoración de los padres sobre el esfuerzo, capacidad y trabajo escolar de los hijos, así como de la valoración y satisfacción que manifiestan ante su estudio y del refuerzo que hacen de su rendimiento académico. La muestra está integrada por un total de 997 alumnos de escuelas públicas del Norte de Portugal (n=510) y del Galicia (n=487). Las edades oscilan entre los 11, 12, 13 y 14 años, por lo tanto están entre el final de la educación primaria e inicio de la secundaria obligatoria. Su procedencia es de tipo urbano, si bien la mayoría procede de la periferia de ciudades como Porto, Guimaraes, Espinho, Chaves, así como de A Coruña, Ourense y Santiago de Compostela. Como instrumentos de análisis se ha utilizado la Escala CDPFA (Evaluación de Datos Personales, Familiares y Académicos), en concreto la Subescala de Relación e Implicación Familia-Escuela. Se pretendía conocer la capacidad predictiva de las variables que se señalan en el objetivo general del trabajo. En cuanto al análisis de datos, se utiliza el paquete estadístico SPSS, versión 17.0, realizando un análisis de regresión lineal múltiple en el que las variables independientes son las referidas a las implicaciones/relaciones y familiares que los alumnos de Galicia y norte de Portugal perciben en sus interacciones con sus padres, y la variable dependiente será el rendimiento académico. Resultados. Se ha comprobado que tiene una mayor incidencia en el rendimiento escolar el contexto familiar del alumnado del norte de Poirtugal y de Galicia, en mayor medida cuando ese contexto implica unas interacciones relacionadas con las expectativas positivas hacia los hijos y el compromiso familiar (relaciones familia-escuela). Otras variables que poseen una buena capacidad predictiva, aunque negativa, se relacionan con la desvalorización del trabajo y esfuerzo realizado por el alumnado en el trabajo académico, así como en su búsqueda de recompensas y refuerzos externos.GIPDAE - Grupo de Investigación en Psicoloxia do desenvolvemento e da aprendizaxe escolarCERXunta de Galicia - Consellería de Educación e Ordenación Universitaria (Secretaria Xeral)Ministerio de Educación y CienciaBase de Datos - ISOCFundación Universidade da CoruñaAyuntamiento de La Coruña - Concello de A CoruñaUniversidade do Minh

Effects of weed control practices on plant diversity in a homogenous olive-dominated landscape (South-east of Italy)

Olive groves represent an important economic, agro-ecological, and cultural resource in the Mediterranean Basin. Weed management plays a fundamental role in their sustainable management. The aim of this work was to characterize and assess the plant diversity associated with different weed control practices, in a homogeneous olive-dominated landscape in the South-East of Italy. Sixty-five vegetation plots were sampled in orchards treated with different weed control practices: mowing, tillage, and use of chemical herbicides. The multi-response permutation procedure was used to test the hypothesis of no difference among the treatments. The relationships between plots were visualized by means of non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination. A generalized linear mixed model was used to analyze the relationships between weed control practices and life forms, chorotypes, and diversity indexes. The results showed that the three weed control practices determined slightly different plant communities. Chemically weeded orchards showed an impoverished floristic composition and the lowest diversity, whereas mowing and tillage yielded similar values. These latter two treatments differed for the percentages of hemicryptophytes and therophytes. Moreover, different from other studies, we did not find plant species of particular concern for biodiversity conservation. We hypothesize that this result is due to the monotonous structure of the agro-landscape we investigated, where natural elements are almost lacking. From this point of view, a correct management of agro-districts should consider both the agronomic practices at the level of the individual olive groves and the structure of the agro-landscape

STAR Results on High Transverse Momentum, Heavy Flavor and Electromagnetic Probes

We summarize here recent results from the STAR collaboration focusing on processes involving large momentum transfers. Measurements of angular correlations of di-hadrons are explored in both the pseudorapidity (eta) and azimuthal (phi) projections. In central Au+Au, an elongated structure is found in the eta projection which persists up to the highest measured pT. After quantifying the particle yield in this structure and subtracting it from the near-side yield, we observe that the remainder exhibits a behavior strikingly similar to that of the near-side yield in d+Au. For heavy flavor production, using electron-hadron correlations in p+p collisions, we obtain an estimate of the b-quark contribution to the non-photonic electrons in the pT region 3-6 GeV/c, and find it consistent with FONLL calculations. Together with the observed suppression of non-photonic electrons in Au+Au, this strongly suggests suppression of b-quark production in Au+Au collisions. We discuss results on the mid-rapidity Upsilon cross-section in p+p collisions. Finally, we present a proof-of-principle measurement of photon-hadron correlations in p+p collisions, paving the way for the tomographic study of the matter produced in central Au+Au via gamma-jet measurements.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. Proceedings of "Quark Matter 2006", 19th International Conference on Ultra-Relativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collision

Effects of Short-Term Fasting on mRNA Expression of Ghrelin and the Peptide Transporters PepT1 and 2 in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)

Food intake is a vital process that supplies necessary energy and essential nutrients to the body. Information regarding luminal composition in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) collected through mechanical and nutrient sensing mechanisms are generally conveyed, in both mammals and fish, to the hypothalamic neurocircuits. In this context, ghrelin, the only known hormone with an orexigenic action, and the intestinal peptide transporters 1 and 2, involved in absorption of dietary di- and tripeptides, exert important and also integrated roles for the nutrient uptake. Together, both are potentially involved in signaling pathways that control food intake originating from different segments of the GIT. However, little is known about the role of different paralogs and their response to fasting. Therefore, after 3 weeks of acclimatization, 12 Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) post-smolt were fasted for 4 days to explore the gastrointestinal response in comparison with fed control (n = 12). The analysis covered morphometric (weight, length, condition factor, and wet content/weight fish %), molecular (gene expression variations), and correlation analyses. Such short-term fasting is a common and recommended practice used prior to any handling in commercial culture of the species. There were no statistical differences in length and weight but a significant lower condition factor in the fasted group. Transcriptional analysis along the gastrointestinal segments revealed a tendency of downregulation for both paralogous genes slc15a1a and slc15a1b and with significant lowered levels in the pyloric ceca for slc15a1a and in the pyloric ceca and midgut for slc15a1b. No differences were found for slc15a2a and slc15a2b (except a higher expression of the fasted group in the anterior midgut), supporting different roles for slc15 paralogs. This represents the first report on the effects of fasting on slc15a2 expressed in GIT in teleosts. Transcriptional analysis of ghrelin splicing variants (ghrl-1 and ghrl-2) showed no difference between treatments. However, correlation analysis showed that the mRNA expression for all genes (restricted to segment with the highest levels) were affected by the residual luminal content. Overall, the results show minimal effects of 4 days of induced fasting in Atlantic salmon, suggesting that more time is needed to initiate a large GIT response

Habilidades cognitivas, autoeficacia y estrategias de aprendizaje: indicadores y determinantes del rendimiento académico en el alumnado de educación secundaria

Con este trabajo se analiza la capacidad predictiva de variables cognitivas en interacción con las de autoeficacia  y de estrategias de aprendizaje  sobre el rendimiento académico medio  de alumnado de Educación Primaria y Secundaria de Galicia y Norte de Portugal. La muestra era de 801 alumnos de 7º de Enseñanza Básica (Portugal) y de 1º de ESO (España) y del total de la muestra 385 eran del norte de Portugal (48% varones), de edades comprendidas entre 10 y 16 años, (media de 12,4 años y desviación típica 0,94 años) y 416 de Galicia (España) (51% varones), de edades comprendidas entre 11 y 15 años, (media de 12,3 años y desviación típica 0,70).Los resultados apuntan a que son las variables cognitivas relacionadas con la capacidad de utilización de razonamiento con símbolos lógico-numéricos, razonamiento abstracto, así como la autoeficacia, entendida como la valoración de la capacidad percibida para la realización de cualquier tarea y las estrategias de organización y comprensión las que mantienen una alta correlación con el rendimiento. Del mismo modo, la interacción de dichas variables tienen una alta capacidad predictiva sobre el buen rendimiento académico del alumnado de educación secundaria